60 i- REPORT— 1898. 



repaired and completed, and the thermometers have been re-verified at 

 Kew. 



Britislh Central Africa. — The organisation of the Meteorological service 

 in British Central Africa has been intrusted to Mr. J. McClounie, the 

 head of the scientific department of that Protectorate. From the great 

 interest taken in the work by Mr. Alfred Sharpe, H.M.'s Commissioner, 

 and Captain W. H. Manning, his deputy, we may fairly expect that the 

 climatological conditions of this Protectorate will soon become thoroughly 

 well known. The grant made by the Foreign Office has enabled Mr. 

 McClounie to equip two Second Order stations (Zomba and Fort John- 

 ston) and ten climatological stations. Mr. Moir, meanwhile, has resumed 

 his work at Lauderdale, and Mr. McClounie is endeavouring to enlist the 

 co-operation of planters and other residents. Returns for from three to 

 four months have already been received from ten stations, including one 

 from KamboJa, on the Tanganyika Plateau, from Dr. J. G. Mackay. 

 The instruments lent to the late Mr. Buchanan have been recovered, with 

 the exception of the mercurial barometer, but they were found by Mr. 

 McClounie to be in a sad state of disrepair. 



British East Africa. — Returns from nine Government stations have 

 been received up to the end of 1897. These returns, owing to the occa- 

 .sional illness of the officials charged with the observations, and temporary 

 absences, are not as complete as could be desired, but in default of some- 

 thing better they iiave added considerably to our knowledge of the 

 climatological conditions of this Protectorate, especially as regards the 

 rainfall. We have succeeded in obtaining a description of the instruments 

 in use at most of these stations, and copies of the Kew certificates having 

 been kindly furnished by Mr. R. H. Scott, secretary of the Meteorological 

 Council, we were able to correct the observations received for instrumental 

 •errors. The exposure, in many instances, seems to be objectionable, and 

 the occasional visit of a Meteorological Inspector to all these stations 

 would prove of great value. 



In addition to the above, we have received a full year's return from the 

 Scottish Missionaries at Kibwelzi. These returns include hourly observa- 

 tions for thirteen international term-days, and are by far the most com- 

 plete received, up till now, from British East Africa. 



Uganda. — Returns of the level of Victoria Nyanza, up to the end of 

 July, have been received. The mutiny of the Sudanese unfortunately 

 interrupted these valuable observations, but they have since been resumed. 



Your Committee have decided to discontinue lending instruments, 

 although they will always be pleased to advise as to purchase and use of 

 them, and to prepare and publish results. 



Having transferred the instruments in Nyasaland to H.M.'s Com- 

 missioner, and sold those formerly at Lambarene to M. Coillard, the 

 /)nly instruments still the property of the Committee are a set at Bolobo, 

 on the Congo ; a set at Kibwezi in East Africa ; a set (probably injured 

 Jaeyond repair) at Wasi ; an earth-thermometer in Uganda, and a rain- 

 gauge at Golbanti. Lastly, a set of instruments, purchased to replace one 

 lost by Mr. Herdman, is about to be restored to the Committee. 



The abstracts appended have been prepared by the chairman of the 

 Committee. 



Your Committee propose that they be re-appointed. They do not ask 

 for a grant, merely requesting authority to expend the Ql. received from 

 the sale of instruments to M. Coillard. 



